The Gutturu Mannu State Forest is located in the southern part of the province of Cagliari.
The entire forest is included in the proposed Sulcis Natural Park pursuant to Regional Law 31/89 as ‘Extensive western area of the Sardinian deer. Paleozoic granite massifs with tormented morphology with valleys alternating with plateaus. High peaks over a thousand meters. Very rich in holm oak woods with frequent yews and hollies in the most remote ravines; cork oaks, strawberry trees, tree-like phillyreas and lentisks. Mediterranean maquis with heather and arborescent strawberry trees. Important from a faunal point of view for the seasonal migrations of the Sardinian deer and wild boar. Also present are the fox, the Sardinian wild cat, the marten, the woodcock, the 1 wood pigeon and red woodpeckers. Doubtful presence of the fallow deer. Mining settlements (Pantaleo) and archaeological settlements and those of ancient peasant culture’.
Furthermore, it falls within the SCI area I.T.B. 001105 – ‘Monte Arcosu Forest’ for approximately 70% of its surface and for a large part of its surface within the permanent wildlife protection oasis ‘Gutturu Mannu - Monte Arcosu’ as per decrees No. 102 of 20.07.78 and No. 1240 of 15.11.88.
